A former police officer, who had secretly taken up a position in childcare, has confessed to capturing inappropriate photos and videos of children under the age of 10 while they were under his supervision.

The 27-year-old is currently in custody, facing 31 charges. These include 17 counts of producing child exploitation material and seven counts of engaging in sexual acts with children, which were recorded for child abuse content.

Among the deeply troubling allegations, it is claimed he filmed children—some as young as four years old—while they were partially undressed and engaged in indecent acts in their presence.

Today, the former officer, identified as James, pleaded guilty to 11 charges related to the creation and possession of child exploitation material, as well as performing sexual acts with children to produce such material.

Appearing from a custody cell, James wore a prison-issued green T-shirt. With a blank expression, he confirmed his guilty pleas to the court.

Prosecutors subsequently withdrew the remaining 20 charges against the former probationary constable in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.

He will return to the NSW District Court on January 30 to learn when he will be sentenced.

James had been employed as a probationary constable but, after failing to pass his probation, continued in a civilian capacity until his resignation in May 2023.

NSW Police said they were unaware he was working in the childcare sector at the same time.

The 27-year-old came to the attention of Australian Federal Police investigators after they found the child abuse material on the dark web, tracing it back to him in June 2024.

About 1200 parents at the six centres where the alleged offences took place were contacted by federal investigators.

But it was revealed that James worked casually at nearly 60 centres over several years, including some of Sydney’s most elite schools, sparking widespread concern from parents.

James’ arrest sparked calls for better information-sharing about staff amid a nationwide reckoning in the childcare sector spurred on by the arrests of childcare workers in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

NSW Premier Chris Minns flagged tougher working-with-children requirements in August and childcare operators say a national register is a top priority, along with real-time notifications of staff under investigation.